Homebrew PCBs

Mark,

I guess you missed my test pattern with various pitches in my last email.
See:

 http://www.vinland.com/USAF-1951.html

See the second part.  It gives worst case combinations of slightly angled
traces with different track-spaces.

Bertho

Posted by: Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> 

Still waiting for some parts for the MCU version,l but I just ran a 
test board and found:

1 - All 5 mm traces are intact.

2 - 5 mil traces/10 mil spaces works perfectly - no shorts, no open 
traces, no "near misses".

3 - 5/5 does not. The traces are intact but they spread into the 
spaces and short together in many areas. The obvious conclusion is 
that the traces are wider than 5 mil.

One solution might be to make the traces even thinner so if they 
spread it won't obliterate the spaces.

What I need is a good way to measure the thicknesses. I do have a 
stage micrometer for my microscope, but I really would like a USB 
microscope with software to measure. Does anyone have a suggestion?

I could also use a test pattern that has a variety of traces/spaces. 
Does anyone have one in some common format?

Thanks for your encouragement and suggestions.

Mark